Understand

Community

Depression Meds: Be a Wise Consumer

If you watch TV, you have likely seen commercials for the drugs Cymbalta and Abilify. While the wisdom of advertising antipsychotics or antidepressants is questionable to many in the mental health profession, the advertising is already out there. So, we might as well inform ourselves about these medications.

Abilify

Abilify (Aripiprazole) is an antipsychotic drug that also has antidepressant properties. It is primarily used to alleviate symptoms of schizophrenia (i.e., hallucinations, delusions). Abilify is also used as an antidepressant sidekick medication. If an antidepressant does not work well enough on its own, adding Abilify (like the commercial says) can help.

The brain mechanism Abilify works on is the neurotransmitter dopamine, by causing dopamine receptors to function more effectively. This helps people manage symptoms such as irritability, mood swings, and aggression. The drug has also been FDA OK’d for treatment of severe bipolar I manic episodes, as a maintenance drug for bipolar I, and to reduce autistic disorder irritability.

Adults who have been on an antidepressant for at least six weeks without benefit may be given the option of taking Abilify. The TV commercial is deceiving though since an intelligent umbrella does not appear when taking the medication.

Common Side Effects of Abilify Are:

agitation, shaking, and anxiety

headache, blurred vision, light-headedness, and vertigo

tiredness and insomnia

nausea and vomiting; constipation

sexual dysfunction

Cymbalta

Cymbalta (Duloxetine) is a serotonin-norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitor, or SNRI for short. Serotonin, maybe the most famous of all our neurotransmitters, has a role in mood regulation, pain perception, gastrointestinal function, and other miscellaneous bio-mechanisms.

Norepinephrine does double duty as a neurotransmitter and a hormone. It works its magic mainly in our brain stem (locus coeruleus), and plays a staring role in our body’s stress response, perception of pain, emotions, moods, thinking, and blood pressure.

Cymbalta may be involved in reducing cytokine inflammation in our nervous system. A cytokine is a small protein that has something to do with communication between cells. Cytokine inflammation may be the trigger for depression onset. Cymbalta also has pain relieving qualities helpful with fibromyalgia, diabetic neuropathy, and bone pain.

Common Side Effects of Cymbalta Are:

sleepiness or insomnia

headache and nausea

dizziness

dry mouth

sexual sluggishness

Anyone under the age of 24 should be closely monitored for suicidal thoughts after starting on Cymbalta.

A Word About Medications

Although many people are helped by taking antidepressants and antipsychotics, none of the medications are effective if people hang on to their bad or ineffective lifestyle habits. Medication combined with good nutrition, exercise, and possibly professional counseling, can make symptoms of depression most manageable.

Just like someone with diabetes may take insulin but still needs to regulate what they eat, those with mental health issues need to make behavior changes. For example, even if there is more serotonin and dopamine floating about your brain because of medication, it will be marginally effective if you constantly think negative, defeatist thoughts. It matters how you think._____________________

By Dr. Cheryl Lane, PhDNortriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant medication. It is marketed in the U.S. under the brand n...

The information provided on the PsyWeb.com is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her health professional. This information is solely for informational and educational purposes. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Neither the owners or employees of PsyWeb.com nor the author(s) of site content take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading this site. Always speak with your primary health care provider before engaging in any form of self treatment. Please see our Legal Statement for further information.

PsyWeb Poll

Are you currently taking or have you ever been prescribed anti-depressants?